Pneumatically actuated swing ride

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a pneumatically actuated swing ride that has rigid swing members rotating about a shaft in a pendulum style of swinging ride. The ride operates with rigid swing members raising one or more riders in a seat platform or gondola up and then accelerates them down through an arc in the pendulum style of swinging movement. The controlled upward movement, a brief delay, and the accelerated downward movement produce weightlessness in the ride that is unmatched in the industry. The weightless effect is incurred at both ends of the arc and every time the cycle is made. By using a pneumatic cylinder, air is used as an air cushion both accelerating and decelerating the ride, giving complete control of the ride.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to the field of amusement rides commonly found at carnivals, fairs and family amusement centers. More specifically this patent deals with a unique pneumatically actuated swing ride that raises the riders in an upward motion then with a delay, accelerates the riders in the downward travel of the swing faster than the natural speed occurred with the gravitational pull on the riders.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWide varieties of swing rides exist in the field of amusement rides that have many different swinging characteristics. Some of these rides use large hydraulic and electric motors operating through sophisticated gear and cable systems to facilitate an artificial swinging or tumbling action. Others use similar mechanisms to raise the riders to a position to be released, relying upon gravity and the weight of the riders to be transported through a pendulum type of swinging ride. This style of ride relies upon the natural decreasing swingin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Another object of this invention is to create a pneumatically actuated swing ride that will achieve the effect of prolonged weightlessness from the top until the riders reach the bottom of the arc and begin to move up to the other side.

Another object of this invention is to create a pneumatically actuated swing ride that can be easily adjusted from a high-speed ride to a modest-speed ride during the ride or between rides.

Another object of this invention is to create a pneumatically actuated swing ride that can give the same prolonged feeling of weightlessness during each cycle of the ride.

Another object of this invention is to create a pneumatically actuated swing ride that can have a controlled deceleration after the ride is over so that the operators may determine the number of cycles in each ride.

Still another object of this invention is to create a pneumatically operated swing ride that can optionally be operated by the means of using the ends of a single cable or the ends of two separate cables attached to two sheaves on the rotational shaft, allowing and maintaining the limited travel required.

Yet another object of this invention is to create a pneumatically actuated swing ride that can be permanently anchored to the ground or adapted to a portable trailer unit while producing a similar prolonged weightless effect for the riders.

Problems solved by technology

The controlled upward movement, a brief delay, and the accelerated downward movement produce weightlessness in the ride that is unmatched in the industry.

It has a high degree of sophisticated machinery and apparatus on the elevated levels of the device, which make it extremely difficult to maintain.

The ride produces only a variety of swinging movements and does not give the prolonged feeling of weightlessness.

Again, this device does not give a complete feeling of weightlessness.

The duration of the ride cannot be controlled and there again this device does not give a repeated feeling of weightlessness derived by the pneumatically actuated swing ride.

These rides handle a large number of people for a controlled time and are not commonly found permanently anchored to the ground.

This is still another swing ride where the riders go through a progressively decreasing pendulum motion until the ride is over, and does not give a complete feeling of weightlessness.

Images